My tongue darts out, licking my bottom lip, imagining the taste of salt from the sheen of sweat I assume is trickling down from his brow.
I want to taste him. I should’ve—
“Jesus, Donovan. Wipe the drool off your chin.”
“Shut up, please,” I snap at Caroline. “It’s nothing. Just that…he’s so provocative on the water.”
She hands me a knowing look. “What’s provocative is your spiral into rowing kink. Jesus, I think you came during the race. Just fuck him, Donovan. Then you can finally stop looking like a bitch in heat when he’s around you.”
“I don’t look like that.” Do I? I might. “P.S. is this you trying to be friends? Because you’re still a little intense.”
She raises her eyebrows and smiles. “Unlikely, and don’t hiss at me because you’re gagging for his dick.”
“Eww. Jesus, Caroline. Do you have a middle speed? A girl can appreciate the view without gagging for anything. Grey and I are friends. That’s it,” I answer dryly.
“Mmmkay. Have it your way. But it’s unhealthy to deny yourself. I deny myself nothing.”
I tip my head back and laugh. “I believe you.”
She shrugs, looking at her polished manicure. “Think of it as checking the final box off your high school ‘fuck it’ list.”
All the lines I’ve drawn in the sand seem to be finding themselves wiped away and moved. But sleeping with Grey, that’s a rocky steep cliff I’m not jumping off of. No way in hell.
“It’s called a bucket list, Caroline.”
My shoulders shiver from an unexpected breeze, or maybe it’s my body coming down from my Grey high. Caroline laughs, making me love/hate her even more, and turns her attention to the ruckus in front of us, but I take a moment to ask something that’s been bothering me.
“Check this off my list—what was that all about with you and Grey at lunch? You know, with his dad.”
Her eyes cut to mine as she lifts her fingers to her lips and pretends to lock them shut. Oh, so you are loyal to some. Interesting. I’d assumed she was only patron to herself. My eyes narrow on her. “You’re a bad ‘almost’ friend.”
She shrugs and turns her attention to the people who are gathering around as Kai whistles and waves them over. He’s like a ringmaster tending to a circus of fools and rich assholes. He raises a red Solo cup in one hand and throws up his middle finger toward the opposite side of the river.
“Fuck Red Oak!”
Mimicked sentiments are bellowed out, making Caroline laugh. Her name is called by a group of girls I don’t know with the exception of Laura. She turns, leaving me without a goodbye. I blink a few times thinking “Bye” and laugh to myself. Looking back to Kai’s enigmatic smile, I’m surprised when Liam comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder, snuggling in.
“So how does it feel to be the big winner?”
“Fucking awesome, but even better that your lips are my prize.”
My stomach flips, my hands tightening around his muscular forearms. I hadn’t forgotten, or maybe I had because suddenly I can’t function. I’m supposed to kiss Liam.
Kai’s voice booms over the crowd, “Listen up.” His face is lit by the crackling fire as he jumps onto a rock protruding from the ground. He raises his cup again, the crowd falling silent, enthralled by his charisma. Turning his diabolical attention to Liam and me, he smirks.
“Our beautiful Donovan Kennedy has promised to bestow a kiss on our very own Liam Brooks. But only if we won today. Give the man his prize!”
Cheers and hoots begin to drown out the voice of reason in my head. Kai laughs and waves at the crowd to be silent again, before taking another gulp of his drink as panic fills my body. I didn’t think this moment would be such a spectacle. I didn’t think, that’s the problem.
“Don’t make us beg,” Kai chides, egging on the fevered crowd. I narrow my eyes at him, but he begins to chant silently, letting the crowd join in and creating a symphony of demand.
“Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.”
I squirm out of Liam’s grasp and turn to look at him. I can’t do this, no matter what any of these assholes want. His sweet eyes stare down at me, the hint of a smile on his lips, and all I can see is his affection. It’s more than friendship but less than heartbreak.
It’s so charmingly Liam.
My eyes search his as his fingertips brush the side of my covered arms. He raises both eyebrows in question. Always so thoughtful. The noise drops off, not because it isn’t there but because we’ve fallen into our own little bubble. Me and Liam. The boy who always makes me laugh, will forever stick up for me, and the one who would give me a piggyback ride for life if I asked. He’s sincere and pure, and it makes me smile too. Suddenly what felt wrong feels natural. I don’t want to deny him even if I should.
I raise to my tiptoes, crawling my hands up Liam’s chest as he lowers his head to me, but I skirt his lips, pressing a kiss to his smooth cheek. His laughter hums against my face as I say, “Congratulations.”
There are a few “Boos” but mostly “Ooo’s” as I pull away, smiling at him, relieved that I didn’t lose myself. Maybe in another life I’ll kiss him, but it won’t be in front of a bunch of dicks frothing at the mouth for some PG-13 action.
He takes my chin between his forefinger and thumb, pursing his lips before he speaks, “No way, Van. You promised me more than that kiss. Let’s go.”
Shit.
Applause breaks out as Liam grabs my hand and tugs me through the crowd.
“Well, damn. Don’t count him out yet,” Kai calls out as we pass him.
Liam pulls me up the small grassy hill toward the tree I sat under to watch them the other day. I can barely keep up with his long strides as I giggle.
“Slow down. You’re crazy. What are we doing?”
He pulls us behind the wide solid oak with stark hanging branches, encasing us in the darkness, and my laughter fades as reality sets in. Fuck. His intention is everywhere, all over me, in my thoughts, and filling the space like a fog.
Our concerted breaths are the only noise we can hear as he places a hand on my stomach, pressing me back against the bark slowly. My eyes struggle to adjust as the heat from his body closes in on me, warming my chest and beyond. Jesus, he smells like a mixture of sweat and soap. It’s making my head spin.
“Liam…what are you doing?”
“You know what I’m doing.”
“This is a bad idea. We agreed.”
The rest of my words stick, barely making it over the lump in my throat as my chest rises and falls quickly. A million butterflies in my stomach flutter so hard that I feel paralyzed. He’s going to kiss me. I don’t lift my head as I lick my lips, too chicken to dare him by putting my mouth on display.
His finger gently presses underneath my chin and tips it up. The firm set of his jaw comes into view, now that my eyes have adjusted. He’s definitely going to kiss me, and I’m not sure I’m going to stop him. Memories of his mouth on mine flit through my thoughts as Liam wets his bottom lip, his face so close to mine that I hold my breath.
“I know why you did that today… at the table. You wanted to punish Grey. Didn’t you?”
Goddamn him for being so perceptive. And goddamn me for the truth I’m about to admit.
“Yes.”
His lips lower down so close that I can almost feel them as he speaks quietly, breathing himself into my body.
“Our first kiss was about him. But this one’s about me.”
Liam’s mouth presses against mine, his bottom lip slipping between my own, before he drags them away and dives back in. He tastes like peppermint and beer. It’s delicious. His hand runs up my cheek, curling into my hair around the braid he’s so fond of, pulling me closer.
Holy hell, this kiss is divine. Better than I remember. Soft and ethereal, making my body feel like it’s floating. I’m losing myself in him. In this moment. Our lips drift over each other’s again
and again until Liam tilts his head to deepen it, pulling at my waist to press my body against him. My body hums because it’s rough and aggressive, but it’s not Liam’s face I’m picturing because this feels more like—
Oh shit.
The thought shocks me back into reality, and my hands find his chest as I push him back. “Stop. No. We have to stop, Liam.”
His fingers linger in my hair, as his breath comes out in quiet pants. “Van. Why?”
I can’t look at his face as I slow my breathing, so I focus on his chest.
“I can’t do this. We’re friends, Liam. We can’t. Dammit, you agreed.”
Liam presses against my hold. “Fuck that. Tell me you don’t feel something for me.”
Can I truly say that? That I feel nothing for Liam?
“What I feel doesn’t matter, because I love you more as my best friend, and there are things you don’t know about me.” Things that might change how you see me.
He lets out a frustrated breath, pushing in closer again, but I keep him at a distance.
“Tell me what ‘things’ because Van, we could be great. Just tell me, get it out, and then give us a chance.”
Not before you tell Grey. The thought screams at me, causing me to shake my head.
“Not right now—behind a tree, while people wait for us to come out.” My fingers curl into his T-shirt as my eyes lock with his. “Give me some time—not a lot, but a little. Okay? You’re unexpected, Liam. I did not see you coming.”
He stares down at me for a moment before grinning and pushing my hand off his chest to step in and kiss my forehead. “Of course, Van. Whatever you want. You know that.”
“My knight in shining armor.”
He lets out a small laugh as I say it, but that’s what he is. So gallant and good, even when he’s being bad. I drop my head to his chest and let him wrap his arms around me as he pulls us away from the tree.
“A knight, huh? What am I saving you from?”
Myself. The truth. A ruined memory of this moment. I think it all, but I answer with a smile and small shrug.
“Let’s get back. The longer we stay back here, the bigger the rumors will get,” he jokes, taking another step backward and me with him.
I peel myself from his hard body, raising a hand to wipe the gloss away from his lips. Liam’s fingers dart out to my forearm, halting my reach as he looks down at me.
“Leave it.”
“Why?”
“Because I look good with you on me.”
Jesus. Liam’s got game. He lowers my arm, staring at me skeptically. “You’re going to tell me everything soon. Right, Van?”
“Yes. I promise.”
It’s not a lie if I mean it to be true, regardless of the outcome.
Liam grins and intertwines our fingers. “Good. Come on, the mob’s hungry for a show.”
He tugs me back around the tree, back into the light and the waiting crowd. Lifting our arms, he forces us to take a bow as everyone cheers. Laughter pulls from my throat. I can’t help it. His silliness is contagious. Liam waves a hand in the air like he’s greeting his fan club as he wraps his other around my shoulder, leading us back down to join in with the group.
I’m smiling until my eyes connect with the chocolate browns that are staring at me from over the fire, filled with the same heat. Grey looks like he could kill us both. And I don’t doubt that he’ll make me feel every cut.
Grey
DUPLICITY. THAT’S WHAT I SEE in Donovan’s face.
I don’t care that she kissed him. The first time or the second. It’s this one that makes me hate her.
Watching her fulfill the bet—that sucked, but I knew it would. Seeing her emerge from behind that fucking tree, eyes bright and smile big, with Liam coated in her lip gloss. Fuck. That didn’t just suck. It took my knees out from underneath me.
“If I’m to be the prize, then you deserve it.” Dirty little liar.
I’m seething. Angry as hell and looking for someone to hurt.
And she’ll do.
If I could turn back time, I’d go back and steal her. I’d lie about Liam, beat him up, anything to keep this moment from being my reality. Her eyes stay connected to mine, searching them for something, probably my understanding, but I don’t have it to give. Not after she kissed me, then swapped me out for my best friend.
I grab a drink from an extended hand. Whose, I have no idea, because my eyes are still on Donovan. The tart taste of the cheap beer hits my tongue as I gulp my drink back, finally breaking our stare down. Kai’s hand comes down hard on my shoulder. His eyes are lingering where I was looking across the dying fire. Smoke twists and circles between the wood, lifting into the air as a piece of wood pops.
“You win some, and you lose some.”
I twist my neck to look at him. “Don’t you ever get tired of causing trouble?”
“Never.”
If Kai knew the kind of nerve he just hit, there’s no way he’d push me. But informing him would require me admitting that I might be doing something I don’t do—lose. I shake my head and take another drink, emptying the contents, and wipe the back of my hand against my lips as I swallow, turning to Kai.
“I’m out. There’s nothing here but skanks and dick. Don’t let Caroline get too messy.”
Kai’s forehead wrinkles as he says, “Done,” and I step away, chucking the plastic cup to the side of me as I walk around some random girls. Donovan takes an advance toward me, but I ignore her and Liam as I walk by them, keeping my attention forward, heading up the hill to where I parked.
With every few steps, people throw out adulations, but all I can manage is the tip of my chin. The moment I reach the asphalt of the parking lot, my hand reaches out for the handle of my black vintage Speedster, stopping as my fingers curl under the metal. The gravity of my thoughts weighs me down as my head hangs, anger building like blocks stacking up until all my reason crashes.
You fucking want him? He can have you. I hope you like the bed you just made because mine will be full starting tonight.
The door flies open from the substantial force with which I pull. I brace my hand on the door to keep it from slamming back into me as I lower myself down and lean over to pop the glove box open and grab the keys. I bounce them in my hand for a minute, all my angry, hateful thoughts spilling out. I smack the steering wheel and ram the key into the ignition, looking up to see Donovan walking toward my car.
She locks eyes with me again, and I rev the engine before peeling out in reverse to the right, slamming the brakes as soon as I do. She takes her last few steps quickly, leaving her standing at the edge of the grass and pavement where my front bumper was. My head turns to look over my arm that’s stretched out over the passenger seat, locking eyes first with a familiar redhead.
“Get in,” I call out, leaning over to shove open the door.
Laura smiles at me, but Donovan’s head whips to her left, the realization plaguing her face that I’m speaking to the girl standing next to her. I hope it stings—so fucking bad. Donovan’s arms hug her body as she says something I can’t hear, but it garners a bitchy look from Laura.
“Get in or go home with someone else,” I yell louder.
Laura looks arrogantly at Donovan, blowing a tiny kiss in her direction before she saunters to my car and slides inside, closing the door with a hard click. I don’t have to glance at Donovan to know what she feels because I’m fucking wallowing in it.
You may have let Liam kiss you, but this chick is going to let me do so much more. Welcome to hell, Cherry. My tires screech as I shift into first, burning against the asphalt as I tear out of the lot and turn onto the street.
“Holy shit, Grey! This car is fast!”
I don’t answer, opting to shift the car, and keep my lead foot on the pedal.
“Grey,” Laura squeals, “maybe we should slow down.”
“Shut up, Laura.”
“What?”
She can’t hear me over the wi
nd, or my mumbling, but I don’t care. I don’t care about anything. I’m ready to explode. I take a turn too quickly, and Laura jerks toward the door, reaching out to grab my arm.
“Grey!”
“Shut the fuck up, Laura.”
“What?”
For fuck’s sake. I dart the car quickly onto an embankment, pulling to a hard stop, and pull up the brake, causing her body to rock forward harshly.
“What the fuck, Grey!”
My body twists to hers, my face soaked in irritation.
“Stop. Talking. Laura.”
Her eyes grow wide as she stares at me in shock. “Rude! Don’t be a dick. If you weren’t driving like a lunatic, I would’ve heard you.” She brushes her wild hair out of her face. “Why are you so pissed anyway? You won tonight. You’re acting as if you lost.”
I did fucking lose. Something bigger than my pride. Lesson learned, Cherry. Fuck her, she’s just a chick. Stop giving a shit, Grey.
“She’s nothing,” I whisper to myself, focused on the steering wheel.
“Is this about Donovan? Because that girl is a bitch.”
“What does that mean?” I bark, facing her.
“What I said,” she answers haughtily.
“What did she say to you before you got in my car?”
“What does it matter, Grey?”
Laura’s hand reaches out and strokes my sore thigh, dipping in between my legs to rub my cock.
“Fuck.” My head drops back, pushing my pelvis forward. “Mmmm.”
“Let me help you feel better. I want to. Fuck that girl.”
Fuck that girl. Laura’s hand rubs harder and faster as my hips buck. Fuck that girl. I press myself into her hand, wanting more but feeling a void. What the hell? This isn’t happening. My eyes spring open, too scared to look down and see that my dick isn’t cooperating.
Filthy Little Pretties Page 19
